Where Am I?

Submitted by: Joyce P. Le     Borrowed or inspired from: ALT games     Date added: 02-20-08

Brief Outline:  Students practice giving and receiving directions while playing Othello.

Materials Needed

Teaching Suggestions:

Detailed Explanation:

1. Have students make groups and give each group 2-3 copies of the map
2. Blow up the map to put on the blackboard and do a demonstration with the JTE. Use the following dialogue if necessary.
• ALT: From natto station (make sure students understand that the station should be behind them as if they just walked out of the station), turn right, at the corner turn left, go straight, at the corner turn left, go straight, at the 4th corner turn right, at the corner turn left. Where am I?
• JTE: You’re at the pet shop.
3. Assign each group a color or a shape. Draw a 5x5 grid on the board.
4. ALT will read the directions (can rotate with JTE in giving directions) and students will find the shop. (When giving directions, make sure to go around the bikers and not through the bikers as they are there to block the roads).
5. Every time a group answers the question correctly, the group gets to choose a square to dominate. Just like Othello, if group A’s marks are surrounding group B’s marks, then the group B’s marks become group A’s.
6. Due to the fact that there are more than 1 group, make sure students understand that they can only conquer if their markers are surrounding the same group’s markers.

Variations:

• Individual: give each student a map. Instead of working as a group, have students work by themselves. Have students listen to ALT’s directions and find the shops. Then ask students where they are to ensure understanding. Next step is to ask students to write a set of directions to a shop you decide on.